Feeding means for knitting machines



lQu., 8, 1940.

.3. LAWSON Er AL ZTLZZS FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed` May 12, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FI G. Z.

L, .fag/Y MH/JM; 5055A??? A14/Sm; APE/WWA? Zal/2751i:

@CL 8. 1940- .3. LAwsoN EVAL M7325 FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed ,May 12', 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ou. a, 1940. L LAWSON ET AL 2,217,225

FEEDING MEANS FOR KNIT'XING MACHINES Filed May 12, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 @CL 3, 94. I L LAWSON T AL 2,217,225

FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES' Filedllay 12. 1936 7 SheeJtse-Sheet` 4 0d. 8, 1940. J, LAWSQN ET AL 2,217,225

FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed may 12, 193e 7' sheets-sheer 5 WEA/mf@ OCt. 8, .1940. J, LAwsoN g1 AL 2,217,225 vFEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed-May 12, 1936 7 lSheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 8, 1940. J, LAWSON ET AL 2,217,225

FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITfXING MACHINES I Filed nay 12, 1936 v sheets-sheet 'r F1015. FICJ Patented Oct. 8, 1940 FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES J ohn Lawson,

Bristol, Robert H. Lawson, Pawy tucket, and Arthur N. said Robert H. Lawson and ors to Hemphill Company,

Cloutier, Lonsdale, R. I.;

said Cloutier assign- Central Falls, B.. l.,

a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 12, 1936,

In Canada May 21,

10 Claims.

This case deals with mechanism for furnishing yarn to the needles of a knitting machine and especially for feeding rubber yarn such as Lastex in machines adapted for knitting hosiery.' The i case is a continuation as to all common subject matter of United States applications Serial Nos. 14,492 and 56,363 respectively.

In the figures of drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation illustrating the manner in which the furnishing means is attached to a hosiery machine and the connection for driving said furnishing means;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the mechanism of Fig. 1 as seen from the front of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the feeding rolls and part of the supporting and driving means therefor;

. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View showing the manner in which the furnishing roller assemblies are secured to their supporting bracket;

Fig. 5 is an' elevation machine shown in Fig. from the main cam shaft is illustrated in detail;

Fig. 6 is a corresponding view of what has been shown in Fig. 5 as seen from the front of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a plan of as much of the invention as was shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevation showing in detail certain features of the feeding rollers, clamping means and the yarn tension which has been applied;

Fig. 9Ais a detail View, partly in section, showing what has been illustrated in Fig. 8 as seen from the front of the machine;

Figs. 10 and 1l. are detail views showing a modified form of the invention for rendering the feeding mechanism inactive during reciprocatory knitting or at other desired times;

Figs. 12 and 13 correspond to Figs. 10 and 11 but show another modification;

Fig. `12a. is a detail of one of the elements for holding a yarn tensioning wire;

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate another modified form of the device for rendering the feeding mechanism inactive during reciprocatory knitting;

Fig. 16 illustrates in detail one form'of yarn feeding roller; 50 Fig. 17 is an end view Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a sec ional view showing another form of feeding roller; and

Fig. 19 is an end view of the rollers shown in Fig. 18.

of the rollershown in of the lower portion of the 1 wherein the cam control Serial No. 79,278 I (Cl. Gti-132) The yarn furnishing device herein shown has been developed for the general purpose of feeding yarns of any nature to knitting machines of single or multi-feed types and it is the special purpose of this case to disclose specific forms of the invention for application to hosiery ma.-V chines. In the knitting of stockings certainportions of the fabric'are produced by a continuous rotary motion ofthe' machine and other parts, for example, the heel and toe, are usually made by a reciprocatory movement of the cylinder and needles or the cams, as the case may be. It is desirable to rotate the yarn furnishing rollers or wheels continuously at a fixed rate of speed which speed must be at least as great as the maximum rate at which the yarn is to be advanced, and preferably at a speedconsiderably in excess of this minimum requirement. In practice the yarn is threaded through certain guides and wrapped or snubbed abouty one or more feeding rollers having comparatively smooth surfaces whereupon, by frictional engagement between said rollers and yarn, the' yarn will be fed under a practicaliy constant' tension regardless'of conditions under which the yarn is released from the cone or conditions of taking the yarn at the needles.

It is the tendency of these furnishing rollers `to feed the yarn under an absolute minimum of tension, all as has been described inthe United States applications 14,492 and 56,363 above mentioned, and any desired amount of drag may be imposed upon the yarn just prior to its being taken at the needles whereby an even tension may be assured at all times. For the knitting of rubber yarns either covered or uncovered, it has been found practically rubber yarns be drawn from the cone positively, 'and that they be delivered to the needles under a predetermined tension which does not vary upon a change in the is to be taken by the needles or wherein there is a tendency for the yarn to feed improperly due to unexpected influences. When knitting and floating alternately there will be a continuous change in the rate at which the rubber yarn will be drawn by the needles and it is a function of the yarn'furnlshing means herein disclosed to automatically compensate for this change in rate at which the yarn is demanded, and at the same time, to feed the yarn under the proper condition.

For certain purposes the rubber yarn may be fed to only a few courses insome portion of the stocking such as when forminga garter at the essential that these rate at which said yarnv top thereof,.or may be fed continuously throughout the entire stocking with the exception of the heel and/or toe as when knitting a surgical stocking. In such practice it is essential that the feeding means be rendered inoperative or' at least ineffective for feeding the yarn at all times except when it is to be incorporated in the stocking. In the productionof surgical stockings, -the foot and leg portions are usually knitted of rubber or at least with a plurality of yarns one of which is rubber, and the heel and toe, in case a toe is desirable, are knitted in a reciprocatory manner and of cotton or other similar materials.'

At this time it would be essential to discontinue the knitting and thus the feeding of the elastic yarn. This case sets forth several satisfactory means for accomplishing the latter purpose. y

Referring to Figs. 1 through 9, a typical hosiery machine has been illustrated with thev frame I and circular base 2. Other parts of the machine would include a Vneedle cylinder of either therotary or stationary type, the cams for operating thereon, sinkers and yarn guides for delivering yarn to the sinkers and needles to form a fabric. All of these elements are commonly employed and need no illustration or explanation in this case. A bracket or support 3 has been attached to the circular base and is provided at its upper end with a shouldered stud 4 having a ange 5 at its outer endl to serve as a bearing for al gear 6 having a hub 1 upon'the outer end of which a sprocket is secured. IThis sprocket is permanently attached to hub` ,P for driving the gear. Another sprocket 9 has been attached to be driven by the main shaft I and by means of a chain II the gear 6 is continuously rotated in timed relationship tothe other driven elements of the knitting machine. A roller I2 has been mounted to revolve freely upon a bearing I3 attached to a small bracket I4 having slots I5 therein. This bracket I4 is attached to the main bracket 3 'by means of bolts or screws passing through the slots I5 and thus the roller I2 may be adjusted laterally throughout a small extent for the purpose of tensioning chain II in the proper manner.

Two yarn furnishing wheels or rollers I6 have been permanently attached to spindles Il each mounted to rotate within anti-friction bearings I8 and I9 which are in turn `held within a bushing 20. A small pinion 2| has been fixed to the opposite end of each spindle I 'I and serves to clamp bearings I8 and I9 onto the spindle as shown, see United States application Ser. No. 56,363. Each of these spindles, its bearings, roller, pinion and bushing, form an assembly' which is quicklyremoved from or replaced in the bracket 3. by the removal or swinging to a vertical position of a retaining member 22, Fig. 4. This element 22 serves to retain two bushings 20 Aand their assemblies within the bracket. To remove one or both assemblies lt is merely necessary to loosen screw 23 and swing element 22 out of engagement with the flanges on.- the inner ends of each bushing. As gear 6, is rotated whenever the knitting machine is in operation the furnishing wheels or rollers I6 will also be continuously rotated as they are driven from gear 6 through the pinions 2|. A yarn 24 is threaded through one of a series of yarn guides 25 in projecting bracket 26 attached tothe upper end of the main support or bracket 3, then about one of the wheels I6 to the opposite wheel and thenv back to the first from which it is led down through another yarn guide 21 and to the usual feeding lever 35 has been so that the yarn A tension mayI7 be if a slight amount of tension were applied. As

will appear later, We rhave provided means for imposing tension upon the yarn at this position which tension is also capable of being varied to fashion the stocking or article produced, or for any other. purposes for which a variation at which the yarn is delivered might be required.

I The rollers `II are preferably formed of some hard, wear-resisting fibrous material, but may be of metal or any desirable substance. To keep the yarn 24 from contacting itself as itk passes about said rollers, a series of pins 28 are threaded within an extending element 29 and project upwardly ofthe rolls, while another 'series of pins 30 are secured within another angular bracket 3| below the rolls for keeping separate the stretches of yarns passing between said roll.

One of the pins 30 vis also threaded within elei from lint or dirt and also to wipe any oil from them. If there is any tendency of 'yarn 24 to cling to the rollers and to wrap about them, the felt will very effectively strip said yarn from the .surface of the rollthus preventing any tangling of the yarn as it passes .to andfro between the rollers.

Whenever the feeding of this yarn 24 is discontinued for any reason, we have provided means for automatically clamping the said yarn between the cone and the rollers or wheels so that it will not be accidentally drawn from the cone after a suitable amount of slackl has been drawn to allow the smooth surfaced rolls I6 to vrevolve freely and without driving effect upon the yarn, feeding of which has been discontinued. A second projecting bracket 33 has been attached to the upper end of the support 3 and a pad 34 made of leather or other suitable material and attached to said bracket by means of rivets or any suitable connecting elements. A pivoted at 36 and carries about its mid-portion a projection 31 to which an extending pin 38 has been attached. This pin 38 has been positioned opposite the leather pad 34 24 may be guided downwardly between the two. Whenever lever is in a raised position whereupon pin 38 is removed from said pad 34, no resistance will be offered to the yarn 24, but whenever lever 35 is drawn downwardly as it is when knitting of the yarn is tobe discontinued, the pin 38 will clamp said yarn against the leather pad and offer considerable resistance to its being drawn by means of rollers I5. The timing of.this clamping means is very discontinued.

-As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9, a bracket 39 has been attached to the 'support 3 and carries knitting thereof is collar 43 is adjusted insuch a position that the spindle 40 at its outer end upon which a pair of tension discs 4l and 42 are free to slide. One

tensiondisc 4l will be maintained in vertical alignment vwith the'guide 21. Another collar 44 is flxed'to the outer end of spindle 40 and prevents other parts from passing beyond the endl of that spindle. A collar 45 is slidably mounted on spindle 40 and when in the positionshownin Fig. 8, will maintain the tension discs in contact'bymeans of a spring 46. A shaft 41, Figs. l and 2, is rotatable in a bearing in support 3 and is held in axial positionby means of co1- lars on either side ofthe bearing. An arm 48 is fixed to the inner end of shaft 41 and carries a forked extension 49 which engages the grooved collar 45. This forked arm is used to relieve the tension on spring 46 when the feeding yarn is not to -be taken by the needles, and also to vary the tension on the spring when it is desired to fashion by means of these instrumentalities.

A lever 50 is attached at the outer end of shaft 41 and is adjustable thereon by means of a set screw. A spring 5| is attached at one end to the bracket or support 3 and at the other end, to

an extending screw 52 whereby the tension of the spring is exerted in such a manner that arm 48 will be moved toward the left, Fig. 8, to relieve compression on spring 46 aunless other cam controlling means on the main cam shaft of themachine is functioning to tension this spring 46 and thus exert a restraining inuence on the thread or yarn passing between the discs.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the main cam shaft 53 has a cam drum 54 fixed to the 'outer end thereofy which cam drum carries cams in twoV different planes. Cams 55 and 56 at the outer end of said drum function upon the toe 51 of a lever 58 pivoted at 59 upon an element 60 securely boltedv to frame I. This lever 58-has a. pivotal connection 6| at its opposite end to which the vertical rod 62 is adjustably connected.

vRod'62 attaches at its other end to lever` 50 and either of cams 55 or 56, this lever 58, rod 62, le-

vers 5U and 48 Will be moved to compress spring 46 thereby lpressing the discs together so that the yarn 24 will be drawn by the needles with a certain predeterminedV amount of resistance being offered thereto -between the feeding rollers and the needles. The particular cam set-up; which we have shown on cam drum 54 is adapted for making a so-called surgical stocking, but it would be within the skill of the knitting mechanic to replace these cams by others which would control the tensioning and clamping means for knitting any type of stocking. The surgical stocking herein contemplated is to have a foot and leg portion knitted of elastic yarn but the heel is to be knitted fromthe ordinary textile materials. A cam 55 is of a height and length sufficient to properly tension the elastic yarn throughout the foot, while cam56 will control the tension on the elastic yarn throughout the 'ankle and calf portions of the leg. It will be noticed that cam 56 gradually falls off in height'so that as the stocking is being knitted from toe to top, greater tension will be imposed upon said elastic yarn throughout the ankle thereby lfashioning the same.

A second lever 63 is pivoted at 64 to a depending bracket 65. This lever has its cam engaging end 66 in contact with a cam 61 on cam drum 54 during the knitting of the heel of a stocking. If the stocking were to have a toe it would be necing the knitting of that toe. At its outer end, lever 63 carries a connection 68 'through a hole in which rod 69 is free to slide. This rod 69 has one collar 16 adjustably fixed above the connection 68 and another collar 1I below the velement and maintaining a spring 12 under compression between itself and element 68. An'- other spring 13 is fixed to the frame of the machine at one end and at its other end to the col- 1ar 1U.. By means of spring 13 the rod 69 which attaches at its upper end to lever 35 will always -maintain that lever in uppermostposition so that the pin 38 will not clamp yarn 24 against the leather pad 34.` However, since spring 12 has greater strength than spring 13, the lever 63 will pull rod 69 downwardly whenever it rides up on cam 61. Spring 1 2 provides a certain amount of resilience so that pin 38' is` not pressed against the pad 34 with too. great force, and it is not necessary to adjust these parts to as close lim-l its since the movement of lever 63 always moves pin 38 into contact with pad 34.and thencompresses spring 12 as the element 68 slides upon rod 69.

.In actual practice the stockingis knitted from toe to top but since the toe isnot actually formed von such a stocking, knitting commences in a circular manner in the foo't which is to be knitted of elastic yarn. During this part of the operation the elastic yarn will be fed by means of the furnishing device, the clamp will be open and a maximum amount ofvtension imparted to the elastic yarn by means of discs'4l and 42. If necessary or desirable, an inturned or outturned welt portion may be formed at the beginning of the foot portion lso that it will not be necessary to resort to other means for preventing the ravelling of the end of the foot. When the heel is reached the knitting of the elastic yarn is to be discontinued and 'ordinary textile yarn or yarns fed to the reciprocating segmentv of needles as this heel is produced by-narrowing and widening in the usual manner. At this time clamping members 34 and4 38 will engage the elastic yarn at the proper time and also discs 4I and 42 will be entirelyv ineffective for tensioning the yarn. After the heel .is completed knitting Vand to prevent oil or grease from being thrown onto the knitting fabric or about the room, casings 14 and 15 are placed over the gears and the sprocket and` chain respectively. Another small guard 16 is attachedbelow tension disc l2 and in front ofthe chain running under that disc. It. is obvious that these casings may be extended to enclose the entire driving mechanism.4

Referring to Figs. l0 and 11, we have shown a modied form of the invention whereby the yarn wrapped about lthe feeding or furnishing wheels is to b e loosened up so thatl it vwill not be effectively fed at times when it is not to be taken by the needles. In these gures a modified form of feeding wheel or roller has been generally illustrated at 11, but is rotatable upon the same essary to provide anothercam to function dur-v j so spindles and inthe same manner as the wheels I 5. A yarn is to be threaded through a guide 18 and around one wheel, over to the other wheel and back to the first from whence it is threaded through guide 21 to the needles. "Altension device may or may not be used, andthis tension means may take the form of that illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 or may be of any other standard 1 type. A' series of yarn guiding and controlling wires 19, 80 and 8| are each attached at their upper ends to blocks 82 by means of set screws 83. These blocks 82 are freely rotatable on a project- .ing bearing 84 which is in turn fixed in an angular bracket 85 secured tothe upper end of support 3. These wires 18-8I each have a porcelain eye in the outer end through which the yarn is threaded as illustrated in Fig. 11, and these wires are allowed to move downwardly towards the surfaces of the yarn furnishing wheels when those Wheels are'to actively feed that yarn. A rod 86 is to be controlled from cam means, not shown, but which may be of a design necessary and may be attached to drum 54 on the main cam shaft. This rod 86 is guided at its upper end and is slidable within a head 81 of a squared bolt 88 projecting through the support 3 which has been slotted at 89 to provide a working t for the squared portion'88. A V-shaped member khaving arms 90 and 9| has a square hole therein so that it will t over bolt 88. A washer 92 maintains the elements 90 and 9| properly spaced froinsupport 3 and another washer 93 and nut 94 maintains these elements in slot 89 but provide for their sliding vertically therein. In the position shown in Figs. 10 and 11, element 88 is 1 lying in the bottom of the slot 89. A collar 95 is adjustably attached to the upper end of rod 86 and another collar 98 has been fixed below the squared portion 81 and maintains a spring 91 under slight compression between the head 81 and collar 96. Each arm 90 and 9| ofv the V-shaped member carries an outwardly projecting pin 98 and 99, pin 98 bearing under wires 19 and 8| while pin 99 -supports wire 80.

In the position shown the adjustment of parts is such that pins 98 and 99 will hold the wires 19-8| in a position so that they will just clear the rotating wheels 11; in this position the yarn will be fed by the wheels in the normal way. Whenever it is desired to stop feeding the yarn, suitable cams will function upon rod 88, either directly or indirectly, and spring 91 will be compressed. When the spring has been thus charged it'will slowly move the wires 19-8! outwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 10 whereupon the yarn will be drawn outwardly to give `the wheels a certain amount ofslack and also to remove the yarn from the periphery of the wheels throughout practically the entire extent which it was wrapped about them. In this position there will be very little tendency for the rotating wheels to feed the yarns.

Referring to Figs. 12, 12a and 13, we have shown a modification of the invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11 which is entirely automatic in its operation. In this construction wires |00, |0| and |02 are adjustably secured in blocks |03 by means of set screw |04. This block |03 and the manner in which the wire is fixed therein is shown in detail in Fig. 12a. The yarn is threaded through the wires and about feeding rollers generally designated at 11 in the same manner as had been Aindicated in Figs. 10 and l1. Each of of a wire down toward the surface of a feeding wheel. This stop |05 strikes against an adjust-l `||0 threaded 'within the bracket Another adjustable stop screw ||-2 is used opposite the screw |08 for each block and has for its purpose limiting the movement of each wire upwardly as shown in the dotted line position whenever extension |01 strikes against one of the screws H2. The tension in each spring |09 has been carefully regulated so that when yarn is drawn by the needles the wires |00|02 will be pulled downwardly before any yarn is drawn from the supply, whereupon the said yarn will be effectively snubbed about wheels 11 and will be fed by them. When drawn down to this position the wires will be held in the full line position of Fig. 12 until such time as it is desired to discontinue feeding said yarn by the wheels. The tension in springs |09 will take advantage ofthe slack which instantaneously occurs oneither side of the wheels so thatthe yarn will be quickly drawn away from the feeding wheels to the ldotted line position whereupon there will be very little tendency for it to be advanced. Either of the modif cations 'of the invention shownin Fig. `10-13 may be used with or without a tensioning means between the feedinglwheels and the needles.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, we have shown a modified form of the invention wherein the rotation of the feeding means is discontinued during reciprocatory knitting or at such times as it is not desired to feed the yarn by means of said feeding rollers. The chain drive for rotating gear 6 is practically the same as that employed with the device as previously described. Chain drives a sprocket i3 which is freely rotatable upon a bushing H4 which is in turn free to rotate on stud I I5v secured at the support 3. The gear 6 has a hub 1 which is fixed by means of a key ||6 to the bushing H4. `At the outer end of-said bushing a collar ||1 is prevented from rotating relatively to the bushing by means of another key H8 but is free to slide axially along the key and bushing. 'I'his collar has aseries of projecting teeth l 9 herein shown as four in number, which engage corresponding indentations in the adjacent hub of sprocket I3. When in engaging relationship with the sprocket, rotation of the sprocket will be .conveyed by means of collar ||1, key H8, bushing H4, key |16 and gear 6 through pinion 2| to the feedingwheels generally indicated at 11. When the collar or clutch ||1 is moved to outer position whereupon there is no driving connection'between it and the sprocket, the sprocket will merely be rotated idly upon bushing ||4 and the feeding wheels will not be rotated for purposes of feeding;

The collar ||1 has a groove cut therein within which engage. elements |20 and |2| fixed in the forked end of lever |22. This lever is pivoted at |23 to a bracket |24 and extends downwardly and outwardly at its lower end to be pivotally connected at |25 to a link |26. This link v|26 is connected to lever |21 at I|28 and whenever lever |21, which controls the clutch |29 for shifting the machine from rotary to reciprocatory motion and vice versa is moved, the collar H1 will also be engaged or'disengaged from the ',sprocket. In

. furnishing means being driven at a uniform rate this manner the yarn furnishing means will be rotated throughout rotary movement of the machine, but will be maintained in an idle state whenever the machine is functioning ina reciprocatory manner. The controlling of collar ||1 might be obtained from any suitable source on the machine such as from any of the cams, in which case the feeding wheels might be rotated or stopped at any desired times. For the production of surgical stockings wherein rubber is to be fed throughout @all of the rotary knitting and not'fed when reciprocating, the control herein shown will function in proper timed relationship. In the event that it is desired to stop the rotation of the feeding wheels at a precise instant a brake might be applied to the gear 6 or the Wheels themselves to prevent any over-running.

In the first part of the case the feeding Wheelsl I6 have been shown with plain, smooth cylindrical surfaces. In Figs, 16 and 17, we have shown a modification wherein` the cylindrical Wheels have been grooved to provide flutes |30, and hardened steel wires |3| have been inserted in the outer surfaces of these fiutes. The wires |3| have angular projections |32 which are driven into drilled holes |33 in the ends of the rollers. It is the purposeof these hardened wires to present a wear resistant surface to the action of feeding yarn which tends to cut grooves in the surfaces of plain rollers such as I6 or the fiuted rollers such as shown in Figs. 16 and 17 if they do not have these hardened elements. The wires |3| may be replaced with a small expenditure of time and at low cost. These wires may be formed of any wear resistant metals or alloys and may be chromium plated or given any other treatment to increase their resistance to the cutting action of the thread.

In Figs. 18 and 19 we have illustrated another form of feeding roller which works in much the same manner as that illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17, but is lighter and allows replacement of the wires more readily. A disc |34 is mounted on spindle |35 and bears against a washer |36 which is in -turn held against a shoulder |31. This disc has an inwardly directed flange |38 and equally spaced holes |39 for the reception of the rinner ends of wires |40. On a reduced end |4| of shaft or spindle |35 we have placed a disc |42 provided with spaced grooves in the periphery thereof which maintain the wires |40 in proper position. A third disc |43 completes the assembly and is held in position by means of a screw |44 threaded into the end of spindle |35. This disc |43 has a flange |45 which is clamped over the outer ends of wires |40 and maintains them in position. When the screw |44 is tightened the entire assembly becomes a unit for all practical purposes. The inner surface of ange |45 is slightly conical for purposes of more effectively clamping the wires in place.

The invention has been described in more or less specific terms, but these are not to be taken in a limiting sense and the invention is to be restricted only as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities for knitting fabric, a supply of knitting yarn and a series of cams for actuating said instrumentalities, said cams and instrumentalities being rotatable relative to each other at times and at other times, reciprocated relatively to one another, positively driven yarn furnishing means interposed between said supply of knitting yarn and instrumentalities, said throughout both rotary and reciprocatory knitting and means for clamping said. yarn between the source of yarn supply and the furnishing mea-ns whereby said means will be ineffective to 'advance yarn to the instrumentalities.

2. A knitting machine having in combination knitting instrumentalities for forming fabric and cams for actuating said instrumentalities, said cams being rotated relatively to the instrumentalities at times and reciprocated relatively thereto at other times, yarn furnishing means positively driven and interposed between a supply of knitting yarn and instrumentalities, said furnishing means comprising 'at least one driven roller about which said yarn is snubbed or wrapped', said roller being rotated at a speed at least as great as the greatest speed at which it is desired to advance the yarn, clamping means interposed between said roller and the supply of yarn and means functioning .in timed relationship with the other elements of said knitting machine for actuating said clamping means whenever it is desired to discontinue feeding of the yarn.

3. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities for knitting fabric and cams for actuating said instrumentalities, said instrumentalities being rotated relatively to said cams at times andv reciprocated relatively thereto at other times, positively driven yarn furnishing means about which a yarn is wrapped to be fed to the knitting instrumentalities, yarn clamping means interposed between a supply of yarn and the furnishing means and yarn. tension means interposed between saidfurnishing means and the knitting instrumentalities.

4. In a knitting machinethe combination of knitting instrumentalities for knitting fabric and cams for actuating said instrumentalities, the instrumentalities being rotated relatively to said cams at times and reciprocated relatively thereto at other times, positively-*driven yarn furnishing wheels about which a yarn iswrapped to be fed to the knitting instrumentalities, yarn clamping means interposed between a supply of yarn and the furnishing means and the knitting instrumentalities, yarn tension means interposed between said furnishing means and the knitting instrumentalities, said clamping means being positively controlled in timed relation to the other elements of the knitting machine and said tension means being released while said clamping means is in engagement with said yarn.

5. In a knitting machine provided for knittin fabric by means of continuous rotation at certain times and by reciprocation of knitting instrumentalities at other times, the combination of positively and continuously rotating yarn furnishing means about which a knitting yarn is to be wrapped for feeding the same to the knitting instrumentalities, yarn clamping means in engagement with said yarn before it passes about said furnishing means and yarn tensioning means engaging said yarn between the furnishing means and knitting instrumentalities, pattern controlled means for actuating said clamping means to clamp the yarn during reciprocatory knitting and other means co-acting therewith for releasing said tensioning means while said clamping'means is in engagement with said yarn.

6. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities for knitting fabric, said instrumentalities being rotatable at times and reciprocated to and fro at other times, yarn furnishing means interposed between a .supply of knitting yarn and said instrumentalities lcomprising a pair of positively rotated yarn furnishing wheels, said wheels being rotated at a speed in excess of that required for feeding the yarn at the greatest rate demanded and other means for guiding said yarn to one of the wheels, from -that wheel to the next and back to the rst from whence said yarn will be guided to the knitting instrumentalities, yarn clamping means interposed between said supply and furnishing means, said clamping device comprising a xed element on the pathway of said yarn, a movable element opposite said fixed element and in position for` pressing said yarn against the iixed element, means for moving said movable element against said fixed elementain timed relationship to the movement of other parts of the machine.

7. In a knitting machine the combination vof knitting instrumentalities for forming fabric, said instrumentalities being continuously rotated at times and reciprocated at other times, yarn furnishing means interposed between a supply of knitting yarn and said instrumentalities, said furnishing means including a support, a pair of rotatable yarn furnishing wheels about which said yarn is-to be snubbed,'said wheels rotating in pairs within the support and positive drive means connected to driven elements of said knitting machine and wheels for rotating them continuously, yarn clamping means interposed between said supply and furnishing means, said clamping means being actuated to clamp the yarn at predetermined intervals, a yarn tension device interposed between said furnishing means and the instrumentalities for tensioning the feeding yarn, this tensioning means being controllable as to the amount of drag which it imposes upon the feeding yarn and means for conwires clamped between said discs for engagement A with yarn to be advanced, and means for holding said wires in such a position that,l as the roller 10 unit is rotated, said wires generate a cylinder about said spindle.

9. In a knitting machine of the type described, a-yarn furnishing device including at least one yarn engaging roller, said roller comprising a central spindle, a disc on said spindle having a plurality of indentations arranged therein equally distant from the central spindle, a disc having grooves in itsouter surface aligning with said indentations, another disc at the opposite end of the spindle from said first mentioned disc having an inwardly directed flange thereonand a plurality of hardened, wear-resistant elements held in place Within said indentations, grooves and flange.

10. A yarn furnishing device for knitting machines including a pair of positively rotated, smooth 'surfaced feeding wheels" about which the feeding yarn is to be Wrapped for feeding to the knitting instrumentalities of a knitting machine,

a series of yarn guiding elements for leading the JOHN LAWSON. RDBERTYH. LAWSON. ARTHUR N. CLOUTIER. 

